Thy Kingdom Come Reflections_booklet.pdfsupermarkets, during snatched daily exercise, on the sofa by the television. The photographs and Scripture in these Everyday Faith prayers give

Thy Kingdom ComeRefl ections for the nine days from Ascension to Pentecost

WalkingWelcoming

Growing

#PrayerAndCare

Care for those you are praying for,

pray for those you are caring for

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Everything we thought we knew about our world is changing. But the God whom we love and serve has not changed. The Kingdom of God is coming.

The Kingdom is coming inside our homes – just as the Risen Jesus met his disciples behind locked doors. The Kingdom is coming in our hospitals and care homes – there is nowhere that the Holy Spirit is not at work. The Kingdom is coming behind our computer screens, in queues for supermarkets, during snatched daily exercise, on the sofa by the television.

The photographs and Scripture in these Everyday Faith prayers give us an opportunity to refl ect and pray. Our everyday world is diff erent from what we imagined it would be at the start of the year, so there is more need than ever for the global prayer movement Thy Kingdom Come. Between Ascension and Pentecost, let us pray for God’s Kingdom to come in our everyday lives and in the lives of people we know.

For more ideas, see southwark.anglican.org/everydayfaith and southwark.anglican.org/tkc.

Introduction

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Bible extracts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Keep us, good Lord,under the shadow of your mercy.Sustain and support the anxious,

be with those who care for the sick,and lift up all who are brought low;

that we may fi nd comfortknowing that nothing can

separate us from your lovein Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.

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Notes

Make a note of the names of fi ve people for whom you are praying, especially that they should come to know all the richness of God’s love.

I will pray for and serve these fi ve people as they come to know Jesus.

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These pocket prayers invite us to breathe deeply, to make space for silence and to focus each day.

Choose a time that works. For each of the nine days carve out three or four minutes. You can either make this a time during which you are alone, or gather others around you for a moment of shared quiet.

Choose a place that works. Try to fi nd somewhere special to make this prayer time diff erent. Maybe sit in a diff erent chair, go to a particular room, or light a candle.

Look at the photograph for the day. What does it suggest about God at work in our world?

Wait prayerfully for the Holy Spirit.

Read the Bible text. Allow it to enliven your heart, stir your soul and spark your imagination.

Listen. Take time for God to give you a new idea, or something or someone to pray for. Make a note in the space at the end.

Respond in prayer.

Something to think about. And perhaps to do.

How to use these prayers

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Look... How many fl owers?

Wait... with prayerful expectation. Come Holy Spirit: Thy Kingdom Come.

Read... Jeremiah 32:17Ah, Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Listen... Let those words speak into all aspects of the state of the planet.

Respond... with prayer:Creator God,the heavens declare your glory, and the earth your generosity.Forgive our exploitation of your gracious provision.Through your bountiful goodness guide our eff orts to be better stewards of your creation.

Something to think about...Look out of the window. Are you aware of things in the natural world which are diff erent during these exceptional months? What is there to learn, and what are you being prompted to change?

Creation

© JustineFG

, FreeImages

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Notes

What have you been praying about? What have you noticed? What have you decided to do to make God’s love known?

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Look... All those rows of empty chairs – what prayer do the hands represent?


Read... Matthew 7: 7-11[Jesus said,] ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will fi nd; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches fi nds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fi sh, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!’

Listen... Ask, search, knock, expect a door to be opened.

Respond... with prayer:Oh God of invitation, as we stand at the door, as we ask the hard questions, as we search you out, may we sense you already at work preparing a feast of answers, drawing us over the threshold and satisfying all our hungers. Amen.

Something to think about...Where has God made himself known unexpectedly during these unusual months? Make a note so that you don’t forget.

Faith

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Look... What do you see here?


Read... Psalm 100: 1-5Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his;we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.Give thanks to him, bless his name.For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Listen... for God’s steadfast love to speak to you.

Respond... with prayer:For all you have permitted, thank you. For all you have prevented, thank you. For all your mercy and grace, thank you. For all our family and friends, thank you.For your favour and unfailing love, thank you. For your provision and protection, thank you.For your forgiveness and compassion, especially when we have failed to be thankful, Lord, we thank you. Amen.

Something to think about...Who do I consider to be my family, near and far? What could I do to bring them joy today?

Family

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Look... Who is learning?


Read... John 10: 7-10Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and fi nd pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Listen... Dwell on the thought of abundant life for the learners you know – young and old.

Respond... with prayer:God our Father, thank you for the gift of life and learning – at home, in school, online and wherever teaching is taking place. Increase in us your gifts of curiosity, energy and imagination. Thank you for those who have inspired us. May we learn from you how best to work together so that the potential you have placed inside us is set free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Something to think about...How can I best use these unusual times to learn? How can I best use them to pass on learning?

Education

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Look... What might one building say to the other?


Read... Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Listen... What is good and acceptable and perfect?

Respond... with prayer:Almighty God, at this time of grave diffi culty for the economies of the world, have mercy on us we pray. Hear the cries of the poor, uphold those who are losing their hope, and lead us into ways which are just and wise. Amen.

Something to think about...Whose names have come to mind as you have prayed over the last couple of days? Write their names at the end.

Business and the economy

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Work (and absence of work)

Look... What does an empty chair bring to your mind about work?


Read... Proverbs 3: 5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Listen... Hear these words not just for yourself but for colleagues, neighbours, family, friends.

Respond... with prayer:In work, in lack of work, in retirement, in schoolwork, in furlough, in redundancy – help me to trust you when the paths seem crooked. Amen.

Something to think about...Where is my motivation coming from at this time?

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Look... What might the expression on this man’s face be?


Read... Numbers 6: 24-26The Lord bless you and keep you;the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Listen... Who needs this blessing today?

Respond... with prayer:With our hearts full of anxiety for the safety of the world,we cry to you, Lord, for:protection for the healthy,courage for the frightened,consolation for the bereaved,wisdom for the doctors,strength for the carers,good news for the poor,and, in the goodness of your mercy, an end to the virus.Amen.

Something to think about...In my prayers and practical action for others in need at this time, is there anyone I have missed?

Health©

Yuya Tamai, Flickr.com

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Look... What can they hear?


Read... Philippians 4:8Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Listen... Hear God talking to you one adjective at a time.

Respond... with prayer:Lord God, we pray for all who work to educate, inform and entertain us through the media. Inspire them with creativity, convict them with truth, and fi ll them with a desire to use technology for the good of humankind. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Something to think about...At this time when we are unable to invite people into our homes, think about the dozens of people who you have allowed in via radio, television, computer or magazine. Rejoice in those who brought blessing. Pray for those who came in need. If some were an unhelpful presence, tell them they are not welcome to return!

Television and media

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Look... Look through the walls and bring to mind the faces of people within them.


Read... 1 Timothy 2: 1-4I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Listen... What is God asking of you today?

Respond... with prayer:God of all times and places,we pray for those who govern our nation.Give them, we pray:healing hearts, seeking to reconcile this divided country;wise heads, fi nding solutions to unprecedented problems;servant lives, laying aside personal ambitions,compassionate hands, working to prosper those who are vulnerable.And so under their leadership may your Kingdom come. Amen.

Something to think about...Is the crisis revealing me to be a good citizen?

Government and leadership

Documents

Thy Kingdom Come Reflections_booklet.pdfsupermarkets, during snatched daily exercise, on the sofa by the television. The photographs and Scripture in these Everyday Faith prayers give